The eat-in table doubles as a kitchen island, offering a dining nook and additional prep space in one space-saving feature.
(Image credit: Kevin Brost/Margaret Rajic Photography)
A small cottage kitchen always has compact proportions to contend with. Sometimes the footprint is small, and in other kitchens, it’s the low ceilings that cause a conundrum. But it was the former that made redesigning this small galley cottage kitchen a trickier process.
Owner Kevin Brost wanted the kitchen to be multifunctional and act as the real heart of the home, despite the space only measuring 13 by 9 feet in size. This included adding a seating area to make up for the lack of a dining room in the home. Needless to say, the room needed to work hard.
Throughout the space, storage has been prioritized. Along one wall of the kitchen is a full row of cabinets as well as the sink and stove. This ensures there is plenty of closed storage for essentials within easy reach. And while it may seem like an obvious choice to include wall cabinets, Kevin instead chose open shelving for an open, airy feel.
A closer look at the banquette storage seat shows even the smallest details have been considered, with deVOL’s Heirloom Brass Georgian Swing Handles added to each drawer.
(Image credit: Kevin Brost/Margaret Rajic Photography)
But it’s the seating space on the opposite wall that proves a genius solution to Kevin’s multi-purpose requirements for the kitchen. ‘Our eat-in table and bench were born of necessity. The cottage is intimate and does not have a dining room – we have a great outdoor dining area, but cold and rain do come,’ he explains.
‘By using a counter-height table, we maximized a small space. The table doubles as a work station, and the drawers in the bench provide ample storage for less commonly used items. And the bench is a prime place for our young nieces, Claire and Anna, to park as we make them pancakes,’ he adds.
Although banquette seating is no new invention, Kevin has really taken it to new heights in this design. Instead of the standard single drawer or hinged top, he integrated two rows of deep drawers below the seat, doubling the amount of storage you’d usually achieve from this approach.
The bar stools, similar to Rejuvenation’s Randle Tractor Bar Stool, add even more seating, but because they easily slide beneath the table, they don’t impede the walkway of the kitchen. It proves that a more customized approach really can make a difference to how effective your kitchen storage becomes.
